Monday, June 08, 2009
Mikulski Seeks $20M for BRAC Transportation Needs
Sen. Barbara Mikulski is seeking $20 million in federal funds to provide for transportation upgrades surrounding Central Maryland’s military sites, which expect to see a significant increase in population and traffic due to the addition of roughly 25,000 military jobs resulting from the Base Realignment Closure plan. The sites include: Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County, and the National Naval Medical Center in Montgomery County.
Mikulski is seeking $5 million for upgrades near each site from the proposed funding source, the 2010 Senate Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Mikulski has stated, “My promises made to BRAC-impacted communities are promises kept.”
The bill must pass both the House and Senate Chambers, and be signed into law by the President before the money could be made available to Maryland.
The Maryland Chamber has strongly advocated the need for increased transportation funding in Maryland, and supports Sen. Mikulski’s efforts to honor her commitment to the transportation funding needs of BRAC impacted communities in Maryland. Maryland Chamber President & CEO Kathy Snyder, CCE said, ”Sen. Mikulski is a true leader in this effort to ensure adequate funding for the transportation needs in Maryland. BRAC is vitally important to Maryland and we need to be ready.”
